Affirms UAE Leadership in Cybersecurity CSC participate in Billington Cybersecurity Summit in Washington

UAE Cybersecurity Council, led by His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, participated in the ongoing Billington Cybersecurity Summit held in Washington, D.C. The Council’s participation underscores the UAE’s leading role in the digital and cybersecurity Fields, aligning with the wise leadership’s directives to continue coordination and exchange expertise at regional and international levels.

The 16th edition of the Billington Cybersecurity Summit is being held from September 9 to 12, with broad participation from senior government officials, cybersecurity experts from the private sector, and representatives of global cybersecurity organizations. The summit hosts over 2,500 participants and 200 speakers, including key decision-makers and policymakers, making it one of the world’s premier annual cybersecurity forums. The summit aims to strengthen collaboration between governments and the private sector in confronting escalating cyber threats, especially amid rising complexity of attacks and the growing need to safeguard critical infrastructure.

This year’s summit is held under the theme: "Cyber and AI Frontiers: Strategies for a Secure and Smarter Government." Participants discuss the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing cybersecurity, improving threat detection systems, securing digital identities, and implementing Zero Trust frameworks. Topics also include cloud security, safeguarding digital supply chains, and addressing cyber threats from hostile international actors. The summit’s importance lies in its ability to bring together thought leaders in cybersecurity to share insights and expertise on emerging trends, thus enhancing the digital preparedness of nations and institutions in a rapidly evolving cyber landscape.

During the summit, the UAE Cybersecurity Council participated in a session titled: "Securing the Future - AI, Cyber Resilience, and Global Innovation", His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti spoke about the transformative impact of AI and automation on the global cybersecurity landscape, particularly with the rapid evolution of both offensive and defensive capabilities. He highlighted the UAE’s strategic approach to integrating AI into national cybersecurity defenses, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making, strong public-private and international partnerships, and continuous investment in developing local talent.

The session also featured discussions on the need for validating emerging technologies, the growing threats driven by AI, such as deepfakes and autonomous malware, and the critical role of human capital, both technical and soft skills, in ensuring resilience and driving innovation.

On the sidelines of the summit, Dr. Al Kuwaiti met with various cybersecurity officials from the United States, representatives from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and leaders of major global tech and cybersecurity firms. These meetings explored opportunities to enhance bilateral cooperation, joint training programs, and information sharing to combat the rise in cyber threats. He also participated in a closed-door roundtable focused on the evolving landscape of AI and its associated cybersecurity risks.

Dr. Al Kuwaiti affirmed that, "The UAE’s proactive stance, ranging from curriculum reforms to flexible policy frameworks, positions it at the forefront of leveraging artificial intelligence to achieve cyber resilience and global innovation", He emphasized the critical importance of continued exchange of expertise at all levels among countries and institutions in the cybersecurity domain, as a vital path to addressing the accelerating and increasingly sophisticated nature of cyber threats, and protecting national assets from such evolving risks.